About Persicaria punctata (Elliott) Small
Persicaria punctata (synonym Polygonum punctatum) is a species of flowering plant in the knotweed family. It is commonly known as dotted smartweed and dotted knotweed. This species is native to the Americas, where it grows in moist and wet habitats, ranging from Canada to Argentina, and also occurs in the West Indies. It is an extremely variable plant, and can be either annual or perennial. It grows from a rhizome, and produces decumbent or erect stems that can reach just over one meter (40 inches) in length. The branching stems may root at nodes that come into contact with the growing substrate. Its leaves are lance-shaped and grow up to 15 centimeters long. The plant has stipules that widen into bristly brown ochrea which wrap around the stems. Its inflorescence consists of a number of branching clusters of dotted greenish flowers, with white edges that are sometimes tinged pink.
